SoulWork
Mastering the Golf Swing of Life
The game of life is not about some relative idea of perfection, but about unattainable perfection, transcendent perfection, absolute perfection—and that's what makes it so infuriating and fascinating and addicting. We take Jesus' statement literally that we are to be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect, and we know, rationally speaking, that we will never even come close. And yet we cannot think of any better way to spend our days on this planet than to roam the beautiful fairways of life, trying to play the game as the designer intended it to be played, in freedom and joy.
Mark Galli is—in order of importance—an amateur golfer and senior managing editor of Christianity Today. He is also the author of Chaos and Grace: Discovering the Liberating Power of the Holy Spirit (Baker).
SoulWork
In "SoulWork," Mark Galli brings news, Christian theology, and spiritual direction together to explore what it means to be formed spiritually in the image of Jesus Christ.
Mark Galli
Galli is editor of Christianity Today and author of God Wins, Chaos and Grace, A Great and Terrible Love, Jesus Mean and Wild, Francis of Assisi and His World, and other books.
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TOM NASH
I've had many a spoiled walk playing golf, so it's hard for me to open up to analogies comparing that infernal game to life or (yikes!) our Christian experience. Nevertheless, Mark Galli's analogy rings true. Motivated by joy, we can seek God's standard of perfection, knowing full well that we're only 3% there in actual performance. Also, it's a good thing that believers are 100% sanctified -- in the positional sense. Our sins have been removed as far as the east is from the west. From God's perspective, we shoot a hole-in-one on every hole!
Konstantine Michailidis
There are some real gems here, but overall, it is confusing. The fact is that that Mr Galli plays the game, plays it better than some, tries to play it better, which is part of the game, especially because he loves the game, and that love is his motivation. If he did not have the chance to improve, and if he did not have a set of rules to guide him, he would not be playing the game. He did not become the golf player he is overnight. He began to play, he practiced, he set goals, he repented of bad golf swings, he used better balls and practiced on the driving range and putting greens, and picked good playing partners, as well as copy the great players as much as he could.. He did not just wait for the US Masters. He played the game. Whether he took it seriously or not. If I went out on the greens with him, he would be very, very disappointed at my lack of transformation -whether I loved to watch the US Masters or not...which I do ...and I can't play a shot! He is a golfer and I am not.